[Problems of regulation of breathing].

Knowledge about the regulation of breathing has pronounced clinical consequences. In the review the concepts of control and regulation of breathing are defined. Regulation based on the chemical feed back is well documented.

Effects of lung volume reduction surgery in hamsters with elastase-induced emphysema.

Lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) has been shown to improve respiratory mechanics in selected patients with severe emphysema. This is thought to be due to an improvement in lung elastic recoil. This study was aimed at gaining further understanding about the effects of LVRS on respiratory mechanics and airway function.

Hyperinflation: control of functional residual lung capacity.

Hyperinflation is the consequence of a dysbalance of static forces (determining the relaxation volume) and/or of the dynamic components. The relaxation volume is determined by an equilibrium between the elastic recoil of the lungs and of the chest walls. The dynamic components include the pattern of breathing, upper airway resistance and postinspiratory activity of inspiratory muscles.

Lung volume reduction surgery does not improve diaphragmatic contractile properties or atrophy in hamsters with elastase-induced emphysema.

It is claimed that lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) improves inspiratory muscle function. As diaphragm structure and function are not directly appraisable in patients, we studied the effects of LVRS on the diaphragm in vitro contractile properties and morphology in hamsters with elastase-induced emphysema. Four months after intratracheal instillation of elastase (40 U/100 g), hamsters underwent either bilateral LVRS (LVRS, n = 11) or a sham operation (SHAM, n = 8).

[Pulmonary vagal afferents in man].

Vagal afferentation from the lungs is mediated via various types of nerve fibers and is a prerequisite of numerous pulmonary reflexes. A review of studies on the morphology and functional examination of pulmonary vagal receptors is presented. Apart from the most frequently studied pulmonary stretch receptors also the role of irritant receptors and C-fibers is described.